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the rear door slam。 When he reached the asphalt of Brown Bridge； he made a hard left and beaded east； back up the road； toward Lime Kirn。
The lane was empty when Harlan Albright entered four minutes later。 He didn't even get out of the car。 After a glance at the soda cans； he merely braked to a stop beside the trash bag and picked it up。 He set it on the floor in front of the empty passenger seat as he pulled the door shut with his left hand and took his foot off the brake。
Glancing in he could see trash： a wadded…up bread wrapper； a couple empty vegetable cans； three squashed soda…pop cans and an old meat wrapper。 They had； he knew； been carefully washed so they would not attract dogs。 Under the trash was the money； 200；000 in used twenties； one hundred bundles of a hundred twenties each。
It was 5 P。M。 when he pulled into his driveway in Silver Spring。 The Sunday Post was still lying by the mailbox。 He took it into the house with him； turned on the television； and settled back with the newspaper；
26
Toad Tarkington awoke at four…thirty Monday and went to the bathroom。 He got back into bed； but he wasn't sleepy。 Still dark outside。 Wide awake and irritated because he couldn't sleep； he went to the window and peered out Some clouds with stars visible between them。 Not too many stars。 though。 Funny； but early in the morning； just before dawn； the stars seem to fade； almost as if the weaker ones grow tired of shining and are sent home early。
He prowled the little room； restless。 He pulled on jeans and a sweatshirt and was sitting in the easy chair when the light began to spread on the eastern horizon。
The telephone rang。
〃Tarkington。〃
〃Lieutenant； this is the shift supervisor at the hospital。 Your wife is awake and she asked for you。〃
〃I'll be right over。 You tell her！〃 He dropped the instrument onto the book and grabbed for his shoes。
The sedan refused to start。 He jabbed at the accelerator and held the key over。 The engine ground and ground and didn't fire。 Too late he realized he had probably flooded it。
Heck。 It was only three…quarters of a mile or so over there。 He slammed the door behind him and began to trot。 Awake！ Asking for him！ He picked up the pace。
The sun was about ready to e over the earth's rim。 The clouds above were blue； turning pink。 Above them was blue sky。
The last three blocks he sprinted； down the street and across the windswept dirt that would someday be a lawn and across the empty parking lot with its tumbleweeds and right through the front door。
The nurse at the desk was grinning as he charged by。 He studded around the corner and lunged down the hall for the ICU。
A doctor was there beside her bed； talking to her as a nurse took her pulse。 The doctor stepped back as Toad skidded to a halt inside the door and walked forward； into Rita's line of sight。
She tried to grin。
〃Hey； babe。〃 He bent over and kissed her。
〃Yeah； Mrs。 Moravia； she's out of the a。 And she recognizes me！ She's asleep right now； real tired； but she's out of the a！〃
〃Oh； thank God！〃
〃I really think she's gonna be okay； Mrs。 Moravia。 It's like a miracle。 She doesn't remember anything about the flight or the ejection； but she remembers me and being in Nevada and the other flights； and she kept asking how long she's been in the hospital。 The doctor and the nurses are excited！ I'm excited！〃 That was an understatement of major proportions。 He was so worked up he felt like he could fly by merely flapping his arms。
After promising to call again after his next visit with Rita； Toad called his parents。 He called his sister to give her the news。 He called Harriet； Rita's best friend。 Due to the time difference on the East Coast； Harriet was at work。 And he called Jake Grafton。
Captain Grafton was also at the office and he could hear the activity in the background； but Toad could almost see Grafton leaning back in his chair and propping his feet on his middle desk drawer as if he had all the time in the world。 The captain kept him on the phone almost twenty minutes； making him tell of Rita's every word and gesture； listening as long as Toad wanted to talk。 Finally Toad realized the captain must have something else to do； and said a reluctant goodbye。
〃You tell her I said to get well quick。〃
〃I will； sir。〃
〃And tell her Amy asks about her every day。 Amy and Callie have been pulling real hard for her。〃
〃I'll tell her。〃
〃Keep the faith； shipmate；〃 Jake Grafton said； and was gone。
〃Yeah；〃 said Toad Tarkington； hanging up the receiver and wiping his eyes。 The tears wouldn't stop。 So he laughed and cried at the very same time。
Monday evening after work mander Smoke Judy went home； changed clothes； then drove to a bar in Georgetown。 He had trouble finding the place； then he had to park six blocks away and hike back。 The streets were packed with the trendy and the chic。 Poodles anointed lampposts and fire hydrants as their ladies gazed away with a studied casualness。
Judy had to stand by the door until a stool opened at the bar。 He perched there and studied the beer list The bartender paused across the polished mahogany bar and said； 〃On draft we have Guinness； Watney's； Steinlager…〃
〃Gimme a Bud。 In a bottle。〃
He saw Harlan Albright e in about fifteen minutes later and grab an empty stool on the far end。 Albright was carrying a gym bag。
Nice touch that； Judy decided。 Half the people in the place； men and women； had a gyro bag with them or were wearing exercise clothes。 Not sweaty tank tops and grungy shorts； mind you； but stuff that looked like it came from Saks and routinely visited a dry…cleaning plant。
When the man beside Judy left to visit a woman who had just slipped into a booth； Albright came over and sat on the vacant stool。
〃Ever been here before？〃
〃Nope。 Gonna e back； though。 This is a real meat market。 And on a Monday evening too！〃
〃Next Monday。 A week from today； same time； right here。〃 Albright signaled the bartender； laid a five on the wood and left。 Smoke nursed his second beer。 The mirror behind the bar gave him an excellent view of the Lycra thighs and hungry eyes of the female patrons； most of whom seemed to be drinking white wine or Perrier with a twist。
Smoke Judy； fighter pilot； took a last swallow and counted his change。 He left a dollar tip。 With a final glance around； he hoisted the gym bag and walked out； right past some sweet little piece in spandex on her way in。
Tuesday evening Rita grinned as Toad entered her room。 She had been moved from the ICU and was in a semiprivate room； but the other bed was empty。 The respirator and heart monitor had not acpanied her。
Toad closed the door behind him and kissed her。 〃How you feeling？〃
〃Like I got hit by a truck。〃 Her voice was soft； almost a whisper。
〃I've been talking to the doctor。 They're going to medevac you to Bethesda on Thursday if you keep improving。 Being as how I'm next of kin； I get to ride along。〃
〃Good；〃 she said； and continued to grin with her eyes on him。
〃So；〃 he said； returning her smile。 〃So。〃
〃I've read a little bit。〃 Her grin broadened。
〃I thought you couldn't focus very well yet。〃
〃I can't。 Read a little here